Igniter for gas-engines.



A. B. HERRICK.

IGNITER FOR GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1915.

z 60 f z liiii 12 18 0: 20 {H 14 Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.3 43 ez J 14 (MAJ/J WW% A. B. HERRICK.

IGNITER FOR GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED ra.4.191s.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2- wTTA/E6 56: I ZNI ENTOB Maw/ Jim v ALBERT B. HERRICK,OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MATIE C. MESSLER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODEISLAND.

IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Application filed February 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT B. Hnnnrox, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county of NewYork, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inIgniters for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode inwhichI have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

The subject of the present invention is a timing and circuit breakingdevice adapted "particularly for use in an igniter which will beattached to an engine cylinder in place of the usual spark plug. In thisdevice use is made of. the compression of the gases in the enginecylinder to actuate the mechanism for making and breaking the primarycircuit. Means for adjusting the timing of the breaker are alsoemployed, the whole device being incorporated in 'a spark plug and beingadapted to replace the plug usually employed. The use of aself-contained generator in a spark plug actuated by the compression isnow well known, but the present device is intended for use with anoutside source of current and I have found that, by

separating the current-generating and sparktiming functions, a markedimprovement in the accuracy of the timing and a faster break can besecured with an attendant increase in the fuel economy.

T0 the accomplishment of theforegoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mech anism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing :Figure 1 is a vertical section of the deviceshowing it in place in a cylinder; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2,Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7are diagrammatic views of the make and break mechanism in variouspositions; Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but of a modified form ofthe device; Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the contact members;and Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing a I Specification of LettersPatent.

.mounted a piston 8.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 6,049.

modified form of my device; Fig. 12 is an elevation view of my device.

In the construction of Fig. 1, I show my device mounted in an enginecylinder 1 in place of the usual spark plug. employ a spark plug body 2,having an aperture 3 therethrough and provided with a. closed encirclingbracket or casing a. The cylindrical barrel 5 of the plug extends abovethe horizontal plane of the bracket and is threaded for a portion 6 ofits length. The aperture through the plug has the upper part in the formof a cylinder 7 in which is A collar 30 is then threaded onto the barrelof the plug and forms a stop so that the piston is limited in its upwardmovement. This piston has an aperture 9 therethrough in which is mountedthe positive electrode 10 of the plug. This electrode has a long sparkpoint 11 so that it will be adjacent the negative spark gap points 12when the piston is in its uppermost position.

The piston 8 has two upwardly extending members 14- to which areconnected the two members of a bowed cross arm 13, the latter beinginsulated from the piston by bushings 60. This cross arm 13 is pivotallyconnected to an upwardly extending connecting rod 15, carried on thelower horizontal arm of the bracket .(and preferably made of aninsulating material). At the other end the cross arm has a horizontallyprojecting con tact pin 16 best illustrated in Fig. 9.

At the opposite side of the bracket from the connecting rod 15, a springarm 17 is mounted on a block of insulating material 25 which is fastenedto its bracket in any convenient manner as by the screws 19. This springarm has a contact head 18 extending from one side thereof, this head being at an angle and having a serrated face 20. and its back covered withfiber or other insulating material 21. The spring arm 17 and contacthead 18 are of such a height that when the piston is in the lowestposition the contact pin 16 is just below the serrated face 20 andengages therewith at the beginning of the upward stroke of the piston.

In the top of the bracket a hole is tapped and 'an adjusting screw 22and lock nut 23 a mounted therein. A coil spring 24 is carried by the adusting screw 22 and by a pin 60 mounted on the cross arm 13. This spring2% is used to vary the pressure on the cross arm 13 and the piston 8 sothat upward movement of the piston will occur only when the pressure inthe engine cylinder reaches wires of the primary coil and source ofcurrent, across which gap a condenser is placed as in the usual system.The electrode is connected to the positive side of a secondary circuit,the plug and the bracket serving as the return.

Tn the modified form shown in Fig. 8 the coil 61 is shown as mountedupon the bracket 4 and the cross arm has an extended portion 26 to whichthe adjusting spring 27 is fastened. The other end of the coil spring isfastened to an adjusting screw 28 which is mounted in a bracket 29carried by the coil.

The operation of the device will be easily understood. The cross arm 13,contact pin 16, and the contact head 18 of the spring arm 17 areconnected with the primary Winding of the coil and the source ofcurrent. The electrode 10 is connected with the positive wire of thesecondary winding, the plug body and bracket serving as the ground. henthe compression in the engine reaches the proper amount and overcomesthe pressure exerted on the cross arm 13 by the spring 24 the cross arm-will move rapidly upward, the contact pin 16 passing across theserrated face 20 of the contact head, thus rapidly making and breakingthe circuit and causing a current in the secondary coil and a series ofsparks across the points of the plug. As the combustion takes place, thepressure in the cylinder overcomes that exerted by the adjusting springand the piston is forced up against the collar 30, thus limiting theupward movement of the piston. lln

this position the contact pin 16 will be out of engagement of the springarm which will move enough to allow the contact pin to pass down alongthe insulated back 21 as soon as the exhaust stroke begins. As thespring 2% forces the arm and piston down no contact is made, but as soonas any pressure is exerted the contact is again made by the contact pinpassing below the head and engaging the serrated face 20. The spring 2%prevents movementof the piston until the pressure in the cylinder hasagain been built up by the compression stroke suiliciently to cvercomethe force of the spring. This spring can be adjusted and will be set sothat the engine will fire just before the compression stroke isfinished. Slight changes in timing can be obtained by adjustment of thescrew 22and lock nut 23.

llt is evident that the compression actuated member may be placedelsewhere than in the spark plug and in Fig. 11 such a structure isshown. Tn abase plate there is mounted the spark plug 51 of the usualconstruction, but having a gas vent 52 leading to a conduit 53 in theplate and communicating with a piston chamber 5t formed in casing 55also set in the plate and having the same timing mechanism alreadydescribed, which is operated by movement of a piston 56. Controlling theconduit 53 is a valve in the form of a screw 5?. The valve 57 is setwhen the device is first applied, and serves to throttle down the gasentering the piston chamber upon combustion, in this way preventing thefull efiect of the combustion pressure on the piston. Also the gas inthe piston chamber is dead gas and this chamber receives almost noburning gas which saves the piston and cylinder.

The advantage of the present device is I that the charge is always firedat the maximum predetermined pressure in the cylinder. The firing is notdependent on the crank position but comes only when the pressure is amaximum, in that way very much increasing the economy since the firingis automatically determined by the compression and not by the operator,nor by a set mechanism which is adjusted for one set of conditions.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the tollowingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

T therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventionLlln a high tension igniter for gas engines theseombination of a sparkplug ha ing an apertureftherein and provided with finedspaoedelectro'des, and a movable memberimounted in suchaperture andadapted to be, actuatedby the'compression in the engine cylinder tobreak an electrical circuit thereby causing a spark across theelectrodes of said plug. r I

2. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a sparkplug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodes, and a movable member mounted in such aperture and adapted tobe actuated by compression in the engine cylinder to rapidly make andbreak an electrical circuit thereby causing a series of sparks acrossthe electrodes of said plug.

3. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a sparkplug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodes, a movable member mounted in such aperture and adapted to beactuated by the compression in the engine cylinder to break anelectrical circuit thereby causing a spark across the electrodes 13% ofsaid plug, and means for adjusting the fixed spaced electrodes; amovable member mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated bythe compression in the engine cylinder; and a second member adapted tobe actuated by said first member and adapted to'break an electricalcircuit thereby causing a spark across the points of said plug.

5. In a high tension igniter forgas engines the combination of a sparkplug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodesamovablemembermounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by thecompression in the engine cylinder; and a second member adapted to beactuated by said first member to rapidly make and break an electricalcircuit thereby causing a series of sparks across the electrodes of saidplug.

6. In a high't'ension igniter for gas engines, the combination of aspark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodes; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operatedby the compression in the engine cylinder; and a movable contact memberadapted to be actuated by the movement of said member and adapted tobreak an electrical circuit thereby causing aspark across the point ofsaid plug.

7. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a sparkplug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodes; a movable memberv mounted in such aperture and adapted to beoperated by the compression in the engine cylinder; a second memberadapted to be actuated by said first member and adapted to break anelectrical circuit thereby causing a spark across the points of saidplug; and means for adjusting the pressure necessary to actuate saidmovable member.

8. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a sparkplug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodes; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operatedby the compression in the engine cylinder: means for adjusting thepressure necessary to operate said piston; a movable contact armconnected to said piston and adapted to be operated by the same, saidarm being adapted to break an electrical circuit thereby causing a sparkacross the points of said plug.

9. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a sparkplug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodes; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operatedby the compression in the engine cylinder; means for adjusting thepressure necessary to operate said piston; other means for limiting themovement or said piston; a movable contact arm connected to and operableby said piston said arm being adapted to break an electrical circuitthereby causing a spark across the points of said plug.

10. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a sparkplug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodes; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operatedby the compression in the engine cylinder; means for adjusting thepressure necessary to operate said piston; stops mounted on said plugand adapted to engage said piston in its upward movement therebylimiting the same; a movable contact arm connected to and operable bysaid piston said arm being adapted to break an electrical circuit in itsmovement and thereby cause a spark across the points of said plug.

11. In a hightension igniter for gas engines, the combination of a sparkplug having spaced electrodes and adapted to be supplied with a hightension current from an external source; said plug being mounted in anengine cylinder; means adapted to break the circuit to said plug; andother means operable by the compression in such engine cylinder andadapted to actuate said first named means. i

12. In a high tension igniter for gas engines, the combination of aspark plug having spaced electrodes and adapted to be supplied with ahigh tension current from an external source; said plug being mounted inan engine cylinder; means adapted to break the circuit to said plug;fluid pressure actuated means adapted to operate said first named means;and connections between the interior of said spark plug and saidfluidpressure actuated means adapted to permit the latter to be operatedby the compression in such engine cylinder.

13. In an igniter for gas engines the combination of a spark plug havingan aperture therein; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to beoperated by the compression in said engine cylinder; spring means foradjusting the pressure necessary to operate said piston; stops mountedon said plug and adapted to limit the upward movement of said piston; apivotally mounted contact arm connected to said piston and operablethereby, said arm being adapted to break an electrical circuit duringmovement and thereby cause a spark across the points of said plug.

14. In an igniter for gas engines the com bination of a spark plughaving an aperture therein; a piston mounted in such aperture andadapted to be operated by the comaomaa pression in said engine cylinder;spring same and said spring arm thereby causing a means for adjustingthe pressure necessary spark across the points of said plug. 1a tooperate said piston; aspiring arin mounted Signed by me, this 16th dayof January on said plug and provided with a contact 11915.

head; a pivotally mounted contact arm, eon- ALBERT B. HERRICK. nected tosaid piston and operable thereby, Attested bymovement of said Contactarm being adapted H. B, FAY,

to break an electrical circuit through the MiARYGLADWEILL.

